City To Begin Collecting Take-Home Car Fees Feb. 1

by Rick Howlett on January 22, 2009

Effective February 1st, Louisville Metro Government will begin charging police and other
employees higher fees for the use of their take-home vehicles.

The fee hike was announced last month in an effort to close a $20 million budget gap, but the police union obtained an injunction to prevent the city from collecting the money. The injunction was vacated this week by the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

Louisville Metro Police Chief Robert White says officers have until January 29 to decide if they want to continue participating in the take-home car program.

“If they do not want to be in the program, I certainly respect that. I actually suggested they ought to make a personal decision. If it’s to their financial advantage they should do it, if it’s not to their personal advantage, I certainly respect their desire not to do that,” White said.

White says the extra fees will generate about $100,000 per month for the city.

The state Labor Cabinet will hear a dispute February 10th and 11th on whether the take home program is part of the police union’s collective bargaining agreement. The Fraternal Order of Police wanted the city to hold off any action until a decision is issued in that case.